The boards getting hard to be on, with all of us (especially me) feeding the negativity. Just looking through the thread titles is depressing.

I thought it would be nice to have one thread we could go into and not feel like crap about our team or argue to the point of personally snide attacks with each other.

So please, no jokingly sarcastic comments about how "We are great at not being able to throw over ten yards" or other downer stuff.

There are dozens of other threads for that. Let's see if there's a shred left of what made this board decent and different in the first place, and actually make this a pleasant thread to visit.

So, here are my three positives about the Dolphins. Feel free to add your own.

1) There is a very good chance our new Quarterback is the best prospect we have had in over a decade.
2) We have a great Defensive Line, and in today's NFL that means a lot.
3) Philbin appears to be a competent and intelligent coach

Bonus - Players I'm excited about seeing more of:
Cam Wake, Lamar Miller, Rashad Jones, Rishard Matthews, Mike Pouncey, Ryan Tannehill

Your turn...

Any positives, or players you're excited to watch the rest of this year and next season?

 

Oh, I forgot... I terms of guys I am looking forward to seeing a lot more of next year:

Kheeston Randall
Michael Egnew
Jonas Grey (or is it Gray?)

 

Oh wow, I forgot Thigpen and Olivier Vernon. I'd be thrilled if they moved Vernon to being Misi's backup at SOLB in the offseason.

And yes, Charles Clay, the forgotten weapon.


Some good potential weapons on this team.

 

Come on, Deej. You can do it!

 

Nice!

Just getting watch Wake is awesome. And it's nice to be in a good draft and salary cap position.

 

Actually, I'm pretty excited about how this defense could look next year. No one is old. Cole really knows the personnel now. We have draft picks. We have free agency money.

This defense will be in its prime for the next three years.

 

Definitely. When a guy like John Jerry goes from almost being cut to making it to first string, that's a decent sign. Lightbulbs for Rashad Jones, Koa Misi too.

 

Right... When you think of it that way, it's promising.

John Jerry - went from probable cut to decent starter
Charles Clay - Beginning to show signs of 'getting it' and contributing
Hartline & Bess - Even with defenses keying on them, have been able to produce, so imagine how they'll operate when other real threats are added to the mix and the coverage loosens
Olivier Vernon - rookie comes in and makes a big special teams impact, looks very promising in coverage drops
Odrick - I believe after a year learning pass rush moves at De, we will move him back inside to pass rush DT once we get a true DE.. And Odrick's year as a pass rusher will make him even more effective pass rushing inside next season
Pouncey - Looks like he will be a perennial Pro Bowler for us
Wake - not only a pass rushing beast but now he plays the run well too
Rashad Jones - if a young Rashad Jones can continue this development he may be one of the NFLs top three strong Safeties next season... He may be already!
Lamar Miller - Hasn't really gotten on the field a lot, but we know the talent and when the play book execution catches up he is another explosive weapon to put out there
Rishard Matthews - his measurables may not pop your eyes, but this kid has a ton of heart on game day. He bulls his way to the end zone, the fights hard for contested balls... Just love this kid and he could be a very good fourth receiver for us.
Ryan Tannehill - he had less than twenty college starts. It wouldn't be until after the end of next NFL season that Ryan would even equal the number of starts Henne had at Michigan (adding Tannehills colleg and NFL starts after 2013's season would give him as many starts as Henne had when drafted). I have to say I am impressed for a kid who has no business even being ready to start yet. Are there concerns, sure, but it's so early. So so early.
Philbin - this man actually seems to adjust. He doesn't seem to find something that's not working and repeat it anyways. I expect him to tweak and improve in year two. I'm hopeful he will revisit the uptempo no huddle offense next training camp... The one that outpaced the Patriots pace in our training camp reps....but that our players weren't ready to execute yet (rookie QB, rookie RT, rookie FB, Jerry's first year starting at RG, and rotating guys like Daniel Thomas, Charles Clay and Lamar Miller in, two of whom have been said to struggle with absorbing the play book properly)
Playbook - I expect we will see more of it next year. Offenses with more variations are harder to shut down.
Jimmy Wilson - I don't care what people say, I still like the kid. He's a great fourth CB who, due to injuries, was asked to play a little too high on the depth chart
Brandon Fields - We are very lucky to have him. Stellar talent.
Carpenter - after a rough start, Carp has settled down and I hope to see him steady all through 2013 (I believe he had some things to deal with in 2012 that won't be the case in 2013)
Daniel Thomas - next year could be the year he contributes at a higher level, like O'Dwyer took some time in Pittsburgh.
Misi - looks like he will be a great SOLB for us. Still so so in coverage, but as a two down guy, he's great. In a long yardage situation next year I'd love to see Vernon take his place, is we were in base 4-3 due to their personnel but the yards to go was over ten.
Dansby - maybe not Pro Bowl caliber but he has played well
Soliai - it's so hard to find a guy like Soliai, dominant vs the run... And we have him.

When you think about it, we only have a few pieces to add. A #1 WR, a rush end, a secondary ballhawk, a left guard.

Then it's debatable... A Tackle only if we let Long go. A running back if we let Bush go, but even then, Miller, Thomas, Gray and Thigpen could battle it out for one season if we prioritized the needs mentioned above instead.

I think we are those four players away from being a solid 10 win team. WR, rush end, secondary ballhawk and LG.

Five picks in the first three rounds. Plus our late round picks and UDFAs sometimes bear one starter or rotational player. Plus a lot of cap space, to retain our players, or nab one of the good Guards and Pass Rushers out there... Plus there is free agent CB depth to be had.

We are closer than we look, and have the picks and money to get it done.

 

Martin should be better after an offseason getting stronger, for sure.

If Egnew actual starts to contribute, I consider it a great thing, as I am not even counting on that, but boy, if he did, what a mismatch for defenses.

 

It's true that Tannehill doesnt seem to wilt mentally or emotionally. Amazing considering the pressure he has been under as a rookie with an underdog team, and playoff questions raised, then scrutiny of his play, etc etc